The final examinable hurdle for many trainee accountants begins this Tuesday with the beginning of the FAE exams. After spending your weekends for the past year attending lectures and the whole summer surrounded by the equivalent of a small forest of notes, it’s finally time to get your life back…but first the exams!
1. Breathe!
The last thing in the world you want to do is psych yourself out before you’ve even opened the papers. Everyone has them moments of panic where their minds go completely blank but you’ve put the work in so once your pen hits the paper I guarantee it will come flooding back.
2. Read everything slowly and carefully.
The FAE core can be confusing as under the stressful circumstances it can be hard to spot the 6 key competencies. Break it down paragraph by paragraph highlighting and writing a small note for when you have successfully identified a relative competency.
3. Don’t doubt your choices.
You’ve chosen your selected elective for a reason! Don’t have any doubts about it because you can’t change it now so need to panic yourself.
4. Take a break.
If in the middle of an exam you feel overwhelmed just sit back for a minute and have a moment. Have a drink of water and a small snack.
5. Everyone is different.
Some people come out of an exam skipping others come out crying. Don’t judge your performance based on your peer’s feedback!
6. Relax.
Have a little me time after every exam. You need to give your brain a chance to rest before you go back in to study mode for the next day’s exam.
7. Put them behind you.
It’s finally Friday and the exams are done! Try to forget about them until results. It’s time for you to enjoy your summer since the hard work is done!
Best of luck to everyone doing the exams from all of us at Abrivia. We will be here with career support not matter the outcome!
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